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Post by berkley on Sept 25, 2021 23:38:56 GMT -5
No, it's part of Conan's story that he ages and becomes a king later in life, that he was a thief when younger, etc, and you dn't want to lose that arc.
But also, REH didn't write him over many decades; and even if he had done, as part of the fantasy genre there was no need to age him in real time as the the series progressed, or to take an alternate approach and shift his time-line forward - "Shoot, I've been writing these Conan stories for 50 years, I'd better start saying his Cimmerian tribe was wiped out by the Vanaheim in their border raids, not by the Aesir, whose attacks took place much earlier, as everybody knows!"
Well, I was thinking more about Conan with a cellphone or fighting alongside the Howlers. Which is more or less what they have him doing now, it sounds like!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2021 18:07:22 GMT -5
Finished the first volume of The Witcher, The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski... Reading stuff in translation is always a challenge, because the experience often reflects the translators writing skill more than the original authors, and you are never sure if the quirks that appear are the author's or the translator's. That said, this was a solid read. It is a collection of stories rather than a novel, and the stories do jump back and forth in time, which works for the most part, but some of those aforementioned quirks do hurt the clarity a bit, but I am not sure if it would read the same way in the original Polish or if it was the translator struggling with clarity as they interpreted the Polish prose into English. There are lots of familiar bits of folklore and fantasy tropes, but most have a unique iteration or at least a fresh take on them. The characters though, are more a stock inventory from just about every fantasy rpg I've ever played, read or observed. They are very well-realized, and the execution of the characters is top notch, but they all seemed familiar to me or at best a fresh coat of paint on a familiar take, pretty much like an rpg player making a new character based on something they read or saw somewhere else. I still enjoyed the read, and will explore future volumes, but I fear I may get tired of the familiarity I find in the supporting cast and antagonists if it stays the same in future volumes. -M
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2021 1:53:07 GMT -5
My wife and I have become big fans of Critical Role over the last 6 months, and one of the most enjoyable aspects of the fan community surrounding the show is the sheer volume and quality of the fan art created by "Critters" So when I noticed our local library had gotten in one of the art books the Crit Role team had assembled featuring the fan art for the second campaign, I got it out for my wife to enjoy. But since I love art books as well, I read through it in a single sitting as well. The Chronicles of Exandria Vol. 3: The Mighty Nein The art is annotated, not about the artists, but in such a way that the book presents as a sourcebook about the adventuring party the Mighty Nein compiled by an order of scholarly monks that one of the characters was a member of, so it is also an interesting read and a great way to review or catch up on the story of the second campaign. And the art is gorgeous, some of it even coming form comic pro such as Fiona Staples (of Saga fame) who are fans of the show. A quick read (as many artbooks are), but an enjoyable one. -M
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Post by wildfire2099 on Oct 1, 2021 7:38:27 GMT -5
Alternities Edited by David Gerrold his is one of the few short story books I have that is from the 70s rather than 'classic' stuff (printing in the 60s, but often stories from the golden age). In his introduction, editor David Gerrold says he thinks sci-fi writers take themselves too seriously, and tried to pick stories that get back to basics. Unfortunately, what that means to him apparently is alot of juvenile humor and nonsensical plots. We have one story that a man is on a plane, he things about writing a novel, then gets off to his agent and screaming fans.... that's it. one story is simply the phrase 'this end up' printed upside down. Maybe that is trying to be symbolic and meaningful, but mostly it's just kinda dumb. Then there the crown jewel of potty humor... 'hung like an elephant'. it's actually a literal elephant in a man's crotch... oh, and his navel sings classic rock. Not sure what that's about, at all. There were two stories a thought were at least mildly interesting... 'The Legend of Lonnie and the Seven Ten Split' is a bowling version of the 'Devil went Down to Georgia'. It's sorta sci-fied up by talking about domed cities, but that's the only sci fi bit. THe ending was pretty disappointing, though. The other one that was decent was 'Cowboys, Indians' that was a band of Communist rebels fighting the man in a Fascist-ish America with a couple twists. The others are just pretty unforgettable... definitely can give this a pass unless there's an author here you are a completist for.
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Oct 1, 2021 10:54:54 GMT -5
The Last Stand: Custer, Sitting Bull, and the Battle of the Little Bighorn by Nathaniel PhilbrickPhilbrick (author of In the Heart of the Sea and Sea of Glory) casts his eyes off the water and into the sea of grass that was the American Plains. He chooses as his focus very well trod ground, looking at what is almost certainly the most studied battle in all the American Indian wars, the Battle of the Little Bighorn or, as the winners called it, The Battle of the Greasy Grass. It's a story often told...and often told poorly. It's also been very well told notably in Evan Connell's Son of the Morning Star. So is there really anything for Philbrick to bring to the table? I'd say that there is. Philbrick does a few things that make the endeavor worthwhile, particularly if you're not particularly well-versed in more than the mythology of the "Last Stand." This is a nice overview of the lives of the main participants leading up to the Battle and gives some look at their personalities and possible motivations. It also does a good job of steering clear of a lot of the myths that permeated the fight for the first, nearly, 100 years following the battle. To the extent possible we get reasonable portraits of Custer, Sitting Bull, and Frederick Benteen. Less so of Marcus Reno and Alfred Terry. If there's a failing here, it's that Crazy Horse gets short shrift. I fully realize that Crazy Horse's role in the battle is not entirely clear and that there is significant mystery in his history, but his role in the Battle of Rosebud is fairly clear and important. And Philbrick giving Gall more time in the book than Crazy Horse seems a tad odd. Philbrick does a good job of looking at the strengths and weaknesses of all the main players. And there are weaknesses and areas for criticism among all of them. Custer, Terry, Benteen, and Reno all had enormous flaws that compounded to lead to disaster. And Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse and Gall showed that they had learned from Red Cloud's War that there were ways to successfully fight the American soldiers if they followed non-Lakota-like tactics. Though it still wasn't quite a fully learned lesson as it's almost impossible to believe that the siege of Reno Hill could not have been successful if the Lakota had pressed before Benteen decided to stop sulking and act like a commander. If you're an aficionado of all things Little Big Horn there's probably not a a lot here that's new or overly interesting. If you're not well versed in the subject this is a pretty decent place to start. Philbrick is a very readable author who gives all the necessary information from varied sources in an informative book.
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Post by brutalis on Oct 1, 2021 12:12:24 GMT -5
Thanks @slam_Bradley for this review. Had this one on my "to check out" list as I've several Custer books already and I'm always on the lookout for new historical write ups to enjoy. Good to know that it's worth picking up in the future.
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Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
Posts: 10,143
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Post by Confessor on Oct 3, 2021 6:05:51 GMT -5
Star Trek: The Motion Picture by Gene Roddenberry. Another sci-fi re-read for me. I first read this novelization back when I was in Secondary School in the late '80s. The book is arguably most notable for being the only Star Trek fiction novel written by Gene Roddenberry himself (and yes, it was actually written by him, not by a ghost writer). Myself, I've always really liked Star Trek: The Motion Picture and this novelization is a pretty faithful adaptation of the film's screenplay. That said, the book does allow Roddenberry to explore some of the central characters' motivations in much greater detail and add additional layers of subtext that weren't examined in the movie. There's Kirk's dissatisfaction at being promoted to Admiral, for example, and the psychology behind his combative relationship with executive officer Will Decker, and his almost obsessive desire to reclaim the Enterprise. We also learn a bit more about Decker and Lieutenant Ilia's relationship before they reunited aboard the Enterprise. On a related subject, the book is a bit more sexual in nature than the film – possibly because it was being written for an adult sci-fi reading audience, perhaps? For instance, we are privy to Kirk's own libidinous thoughts concerning Ilia, and Roddenberry also sees fit to have Decker and the Ilia Probe engage in a sexual encounter. I'm not sure that these more X-rated additions really add much to our understanding of the characters and they definitely feel out of place in the world of Star Trek. Overall, the novelization is a fairly fast read and is well written. It amply demonstrates what a skilled sci-fi writer Roddenberry was, as he deftly weaves together believable, three-dimensional characterisation, with exciting peril and vivid descriptions of breathtaking galactic beauty. I know that it's not everybody's favourite Star Trek movie – and rest assured that this book will not change your mind about the merits (or lack thereof) of Star Trek: The Motion Picture at all. But if you are already a fan of the film, you will enjoy this book a lot. Myself, I maintain that The Motion Picture is the Star Trek film that adheres closest to the spirit of the original TV series and it's also the one with the biggest philosophical heart.
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Post by berkley on Oct 4, 2021 0:59:38 GMT -5
Like I was saying in the Star Trek thread, agree about the movie and will definitely be looking for this. Just the fact alone that it's a Star Trek book written by Roddenberry makes it worth hunting down, for me.
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Confessor
CCF Mod Squad
Not Bucky O'Hare!
Posts: 10,143
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Post by Confessor on Oct 4, 2021 6:00:50 GMT -5
Like I was saying in the Star Trek thread, agree about the movie and will definitely be looking for this. Just the fact alone that it's a Star Trek book written by Roddenberry makes it worth hunting down, for me. Yeah, it's surprising to me that this is the one and only ST fiction book Roddenberry wrote. I enjoyed his writing very much and wanted to read more ST by the main man himself, so I was disappointed to find that this was the only Trek fiction he penned in book form.
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Post by Rob Allen on Oct 4, 2021 11:12:40 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2021 22:24:59 GMT -5
Genius Isolated: The Art and Life of Alex Toth (Vol. 1) by Dean Mullany & crew The first book in the Toth trilogy. I used ILL to borrow all three volumes, and it's taken me a couple of weeks to get through the first (mostly because it is so damn big and uncomfortable to hold and read for long periods of time and I am rotating through a half dozen different reads (comics and prose) at the same time) volume. But it was worth it to take time and savor every page. Filled with a biographical sketch of Alex life from childhood until the early 60s, and filled with interviews, excerpts from correspondence, and many, many samples of Toth's works. Some single page samples, others complete stories, including the complete run of the Jon Fury comic strip Toth produced while in the army. It also contains a complete bibliography of Toth's work from his debut in Heroic Comics through the early 60s. This is a dense book, but absolutely fascinating. It is a glimpse behind the curtain and a deep dive into the output of the man and his art. If I ever find a copy of this in the wild, it will become part of my library. I cannot recommend this book enough, not just to Toth fans, but to fans of comics or art in general. -M
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2021 21:01:20 GMT -5
Heroes and Horrors-a short story collection by Fritz Leiber HeroesSea Magic The Mer She HorrorsA Bit of the Dark World Belsen Express Midnight in the Mirror World Richmond, Late September, 1849 Midnight by the Morphy Watch The Terror from the Depths Dark Wings I finished the last 2 stories in this collection this afternoon before first pitch of the Sox game. Overall it was a mixed bag of stories. The heroes were represented by a pair of interlinked solo adventures of Fafhrd and the Mouser. The events of each played off of each other, and were set late in the careers of the adventuring duo, but were kind of meh, it was lacking the interplay between the two, which is often the highlight of the Fafhrd/Mouser stories. I'm a big fan of this Lieber series, and was looking forward to two stories in it I hadn't read before, but these two just fell flat. The horror side was especially mixed. The highlight was Leiber trying his hand at a Cthulhu mythos story in "The Terror from the Depths" which also uses Lovecraft himself and his stories a part of the plot. The worst was "Dark Wings", a story dealing with long lost twins, Jungian archetypes, and a horrible take on sexual assault, gender identity, and homosexuality that would have felt cringy at the time it was written, let along it not aging well into contemporary times. "Richmond, Late September, 1849" was a muddled mess revolving around the unknown events of Poe's last days leading to his death, but was still better than "Dark Wings" "A Bit of the Dark World" was a fear of the dark story that was filled with 60s pop-psychology mouthed by the characters. It has some decent suspense moments and some creepy happenings, but it definitely felt of its time and loses some effectiveness as some of the psychological premises ahve fallen out of favor since then making it seem a bit silly rather than "deep" or "insightful" in a couple places where that was what it was striving for. "Belsen Express" was a standard twist ending horror story. Well-crafted, but not a stand out. "Midnight in the Mirror World" was full of creepy bits and Leiber's prose was very strong in this one, even if the plot was a bit predictable. "Midnight by the Morphy Watch" was an interesting story revolving around chess. Maybe a bit too heavy on name dropping great chess players and focusing on the minutiae of chess openings and moves in the games played for non-chess players, but it works as a pseudo-ghost story and has a nice creepy vibe throughout. All in all. worth checking out, but not Leiber at his best. -M
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Oct 11, 2021 13:34:18 GMT -5
Field Grey by Philip KerrBernie Gunther returns and is still in Havana in 1954. Well...he's there for a little bit. As he tries to make his escape (he doesn't like his job spying on Meyer Lansky for the Cuban secret police) he's picked up by an American ship out of Guantanamo and his true identity is discovered. Thus starts a cat and mouse game of Bernie playing the CIA off of the SDECE (French foreign intelligence) off of the newly formed Stasi, with just a little bit of NKVD thrown in for good measure. Of course each of the western agencies wants Gunther to identify Germans that they either want to prosecute as war criminals or turn, in the case of those who are in the Soviet sphere. Of course, as seems to be the case with the latter-day Gunther novels, there are plenty of flash-backs to the war, as Bernie tells his tales to the CIA and the SDECE. We find out about his time in newly occupied France and a bit more about his activities in the Ukraine and fighting the Russians at the end of the war. And significantly more about his time in the Russian and Czech POW camps. Gunther is, however, an unreliable narrator, as he's trying to feed his various captors what they want to hear in order to save his life. I think this was the weakest of the Bernie Gunther books thus far. It feels more disjointed than usual through the flashbacks. There are long stretches of Gunther reciting parts of the history of the Nazi occupation of various areas. And while that's interesting it tends to bog down the narrative. Where Kerr excels is in showing that there really are no good guys here. The tactics by the CIA and the SDECE are every bit as bad as those used by the Stasi and the NKVD. Kerr excels in showing the refugee and concentration camps that were in place in France at the time of the invasion by Germany. While not explicitly stated (it's beyond the scope of this book) you get a hint of what had been happening in Vietnam and was and would be happening in Algeria. The CIA was certainly not above torture, assassinations, and "de-Nazification" of some of the worst of humanity to aide in the Cold War. While weak by comparison it's still a good read.
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Post by wildfire2099 on Oct 14, 2021 20:28:16 GMT -5
Star Wars: Alphabet Squadron by Alexander Freed
I'm still not sure how I feel about this book. On the one hand, it's a fantastic look at the larger Star Wars universe... something the Disney version of the universe hasn't done alot of. It gives a very unique and realistic look at the 'rank and file' of the Star Wars universe... one where the Jedi are a half mystical cult of little importance and the war between the Empire and the Rebels is just a fact of life to be endured until it moves on.
I really liked the PoV's of the characters, and I appreciated using some different aliens (though they weren't described well). On the other hand, those characters were not at all compelling. There is no one to get behind in Alphabet Squadron.. you get a drifter that tries and fails to captures the Han Solo vibe, a whiny ex-imperial, a too perfect provincial, a silent assassin, and a crazy chick with a death wish. The leader seems to be a slimy bureaucrat. Just not a cast I can get behind.
Seeing Hera was fantastic though, even if they were very, very careful not to mention anyone else fom the Ghost to give even a hint of what they might be up to (I suspect they're saving that for the upcoming Ahsoka TV series.)
Then there's 'Devon' who seems completely random, and even after his big reveal didn't really get me excited. I'm sure he'll factor into the next book.
The thing is, though.. it doesn't really make sense for the squadron to stay together after this story. I'm sure they'll be a somewhat plausible reason, but it will be hard to sell, imo.
It's great to see stuff from immediately after Return of the Jedi, though, as that's the story I want to hear (I'm still hoping the TV shows will invalidate the new movies and they'll just sort of scrap them and move forward)... I didn't comb for detail to be sure this book doesn't contradict the Claudia Gray books (which I liked) or the awful Chuck Wendig Trilogy (which it would be fine). but nothing jumped out, which is good.
I'm sure I'll grab the next one at some point.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2021 12:22:41 GMT -5
I finished the second volume of the Toth trilogy-Genius Illustrated: The Life and Art of Alex Toth by Dean Mullany and crew... Another fascinating read, and a heartbreaking one as you read through the self-imposed hell Toth turned his life into following the death of his fourth wife and his mother. So many wasted years when he was at the height of his craft. I am glad for him he was able to reconnect with family and friends at the end, but his self-imposed hermitage is fat too scarily real to make for comfortable reading. But overall, another lavishly illustrated and informative volume. -M
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